Reporting by Iris Seaton, Asheville Citizen Times
A time capsule containing contributions from all 50 states and beyond will be buried on July 4 this year to mark the nation’s 250th birthday.
Organized by America250, the national nonpartisan organization charged by Congress to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the time capsule will be buried at the Independence National Historical Park to be reopened on America’s 500th birthday.
“America’s Time Capsule” was established in 2016 with America250’s founding public law, which directed the US Semiquincentennial Commission to “create a lasting national marker of this historic milestone.” The capsule is intended to preserve a “record that reflects the full federation of states and territories and the institutions that shape our civic life.”
The time capsule has already been sealed and will be buried on July 4, 2026. Here’s what to know about North Carolina’s contributions, interesting objects included in the capsule and more.
What is America250?
America250 is the national nonpartisan organization charged by Congress which aims to “engage every American in celebrating and commemorating the 250th anniversary of our country.” Apart from the time capsule, other initiatives from America 250 include:
- America’s Field Trip – A countrywide contest inviting US students in grades 3-12 to share perspectives on what America means to them with the chance to win an “unforgettable field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks”
- Giving 4th – An initiative that aims to “transform Independence Day into the largest single day of charitable giving in US history” by encouraging Americans to make charitable donations on July 4
- America’s Soundtrack – A playlist of songs intended to be a “nationwide celebration of the music that tells our story”, including “America,” by Gloria and Emilio Estefan, “American Promise,” a newly commissioned orchestral work by composer Karen LeFrak, “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” performed by The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and more
For a full list of events and initiatives associated with America250, visit the website at america250.org.
When is America’s 250th birthday?
July 4, 2026, marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
What did North Carolina put in the America250 time capsule?
North Carolina’s contributions to the America250 Time Capsule include:
- America250 N.C. poem – The first page of Jaki Shelton Green’s official poem for the state’s commemoration. The poem in its entirety was described on the America 250 website as embodying “all that is North Carolina.”
- Commemorative copper disk – A copper disk engraved with an image of the state’s capitol building. The copper used to craft the disk was originally a part of the domed roof of the building from 1972-2023. The disk’s etching was completed in 2024 by Robert Steinbeiser of Raleigh.
What is in the America250 time capsule?
“America’s Time Capsule” contains contributions from America250 tentpole programs, all three branches of the US federal government, all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and five US territories.
The capsule also contains contributions from “select national partners and institutions whose contributions reflect the people, places, ideas, and innovations shaping the United States at 250 years,” including sports organizations like the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball, the Smithsonian Institution, NBC’s “Today Show” and more.
State contributions vary quite a bit. Some interesting and notable contributions include:
- Diamond (Arkansas) – A diamond found at Crater of Diamonds State Park, described as the only place in the US where you can search for diamonds and keep what you find
- Fusion superconductor (California) – A fusion conductor built in San Diego, California by General Atomics, intended to reflect “some of the most innovative research on clean energy across the globe”
- Whale bone (Maine) – A bone from a North Atlantic right whale, one of the world’s most critically endangered large whale species
- Set of gambling chips/tokens (Nevada) – A collection of chips and tokens representing the “pivotal decision” made by Nevada during the Great Depression to legalize gambling in order to generate revenue
- Rosary (Puerto Rico) – A stainless steel rosary representing “the importance of faith and spirituality in the daily life of Puerto Rico”
- Olympic gold medal (International Olympic Committee & NBC Today Show) – A gold medal from the 2026 Cortina Winter Olympics with collectable Olympic pins attached
A full list of the capsule’s contents is available at america250.org/time-capsule/contents.
When will the America250 time capsule be opened?
The time capsule, which will be buried at Independence National Historical Park on July 4, 2026, will be reopened in 2276.
Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times.
